Dhaka: The prosecution on Sunday pressed charges against 19 people, including former lawmaker Saiful Islam, before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in a crimes against humanity case involving the killing of university student Shaikh Ashabul Yamin in Savar during the July 2024 mass uprising. The prosecution submitted the formal charges to the ICT Registrar in the morning.

According to United News of Bangladesh, the charges were filed after a lengthy investigation and a review of the investigation agency’s report. Seven of the accused are currently in jail. They include former Additional Superintendents of Police of Dhaka district Md Abdullahil Kafi and Md Shahidul Islam, Assistant Sub-Inspector Mohammad Ali, Nayeks Sohel, Mizanur Rahman, Zakir Hossain, and constable Masud Mia.

Yamin, a fourth-year student of the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), was killed on July 18, 2024, during the anti-discrimination student movement in Savar. According to the prosecution, police and activists of the then-ruling Awami League attacked peaceful demonstrators near the Savar Bazar Bus Stand.

Yamin was allegedly dragged towards a police armoured personnel carrier (APC) and shot in the left side of his chest around 1:30 pm. The prosecution alleged that after he was shot, Yamin was placed on top of the APC, which was driven around the area to intimidate protesting students and civilians. He was later thrown onto the road in an injured condition.

A police officer inside the vehicle was instructed to shoot Yamin again in the leg. Believing him to be dead, the officer allegedly did not carry out the order but instead dragged him across the road and left him on the other side of the road divider. Local residents later rescued Yamin, who was reportedly still breathing, and took him to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar, where doctors declared him dead.